Means for controlling spring resistance



June 19, 1928. 1,674,548

A. F. HEGEN BERGER ET AL 4 MEANS FOR CONTROLLING SPRING RESISTANCEiii-led March 21, 1925 Patented June 19, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

I j ALBERT r. HEGENBERGER Annenoneri r. LUCKEY, or DAYTON, 01110.

MEANS FOR CONTROLLING spams RESISTANCE.

Applicationfiled March 21, 1923. Serial No. 626,550.

This invention relates to a mechanical device for controlling theresistance of a'spring or the equlvalent of a spring.

The object of the invention is to provide a mechanical device which willdecrease the force required to compress or stretch a spring or a systemcontaining one or more springs, or in other Words, a device which willneutralize to any desired extent, the force of a spring or system ofsprings or any other part or parts acting in the nature'of a spring orsprings. j

A further ob'ect of theinvention is to provide a IIIQChtUIlCiLlClGVlCGof the nature re ferred to by means of which the resistance of a springor its equivalent may be controlled.

with the aid of toggle links or levers, or one or more springs or theequivalent thereof, acting to neutralize to the desired extent the forceor tension of the spring or springs.

With the above and other objects in View the invention consists in thenovel construction, combination and arrangement herein described, shownand claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figures 1, 2 and 3 are plan views showingone form of means for controlling the resistance of a spring. 7

Figures 4, 5 and 6 show other means for accomplishing the same purposebut'involving the same principle.

Referring first to Figures 1, 2 and 3, 1 designates a spring whose forceit is desired to control or neutralize to any desired extent. The spring1 is fastened to-a pivoted arm 3 at the free end thereof at the point 6.The

, arm 3 is mounted pivotally on any suitable support at i. Aneutralizing or controlling spring 2 is anchored at the point 5 and iscon nected to the point 6 of the arm 3. When the spring 1 is in itsneutral position or, in other words, neither compressed norexpanded, thearm 3 stands at a right angle to the spring 1 and the spring 2 in anextended or stretched condition passes from the point 6 along thedirection of the arm and in line with the pivot 4; to the anchoragepoint 5-.

The force on the arm, due to the spring 2, pulls back on the point 6directly in line with the pivot i, and therefore there is no tendency ofthe arm 3 to turn about its pivot 4. I

In Figure 2 the spring 1 has been extended and is now exerting a forcein the direction from 6 to 7 where the spring 1 is anchored to a fixedpoint. In extending the spring 1 the arm?) has been moved so that thespring 2 is now tending to pull the arm 3 in, a counterclockwisedirection. This causes a force at 6 in the direction from 7 to 6 andtends to neutralize the force of the springl pulling in the directionfrom 6 to- 7. For.

small angular motions of the arm 3 away from the neutral position shownin Figure 1,

- the force at 6 due to the action of the spring 2 opposing spring 1 isproportional to the amount that the spring 1 has been stretched. Thisopposing force may be increased or decreased by changing the strength ofthe spring 2. I V 3 In Figure 3. the spring 1 has been compressed and isnow exerting a force in" the direction from 7 to 6'. In compressing thespring 1, the arm 3 has been moved so that the spring 2 is now tendingto pull the arm 3 in a clockwise direction. This causes a force at 6 inthe direction from 6 to 7 and tends to neutralize the force of thespring pressing in the direction from 7 to 6. For small angular motionsof the arm 3 away from the neutral position shown in Figure 1, the forceat 6 due to the action of the spring 2 opposing the spring 1 is nearlyproportional to the amount that the spring 1 has been compressed. Thisopposing force can be increased or decreased by changing the strength ofthe spring 2.v 7

Another mechanical device to carry out the same principle and-obtainsimilar results is shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, in which the spring 1whose force it is desired to neutralize or control, is anchored at 7 andattached at 6 to the pivotal connection between two toggle links orlevers 3 and 4;, which are tended and compressed. In each case the forcein the direction of. the spring 1 at the point 6 due to the action ofthe spring 2 is opposite in direction to the force exerted by thespring 1. By changing the strength of the spring 2 the force exerted bythe spring 1 may be neutralized or controlled to any desired extent.

The two plans above described and shown in the accompanying drawings areexamples force of a spring in the-flexible diaphragins v of variousinstruments, as for example, in a metallic bellows which is used as adiaphragm and has a rather stiff action inherent in its construction.Again, in aneroid barometers and the like, a stiff spring is introducedto prevent the diaphragm from collapsing due to pressure of air. Theeffect of these stiff springs is to allow only a small expansion whenthe pressure is raised or lowered. By introducing a spring havingnegative characteristics, the effect of the stifl' springs necessary toprevent the collapse of the diaphragm is neutralized and any desiredchange in expansion or contraction for emme a given change inatmospheric pressure may be obtained.

We claim:

1. In combination with a spring, means for controlling the resistance ofsaid spring comprising a pivoted element to which said spring isattached, and a counter spring also attached to said pivoted element andarranged to act with progressively increasing force in opposition to theprogressively increasing resistance of the first named spring.

2. In combination with a spring having one end thereof anchored, meansfor controlling the active resistance of said spring comprising apivoted element having the active portion of said spring attachedthereto at a point distant from the pivot thereof, and a counter springanchored at one end and having the active portion thereof connected withsaid pivoted element at a point distant from the pivot thereof andarranged to act with progressively increasing force in opposition to theprogressively increasing resistance of the first named spring. I

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures. V

ALBERT r. HEGENBER-GER. GEORGE P. LUGKEY.

